Pet Vaccinations: Protect Your Pet from Diseases
Asquith Veterinary Hospital, located on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, focuses on providing pet owners with safe, effective and timely pet vaccinations, helping your pet to live the best life possible and preventing many common life-threatening diseases. Speak with the team today for an appointment.
How Vaccines Work For Your Pet
Vaccines contain small amounts of specific inactivated viruses or bacteria, and they function by stimulating the body’s immune system to respond with the production of antibodies, which will protect against this specific virus/bacteria, helping your pet avoid life-threatening infections.
Core Vs. Non-Core Vaccines
There are two types of pet vaccinations: core vaccines, which are given to every dog and cat regardless of their lifestyle. Core vaccines for pets protect against life-threatening viruses such as distemper and parvovirus, and in some states, rabies. Non-core pet vaccines are to be decided upon by your vet based on your individual pet‘s lifestyle, environment and risk of contracting diseases. Non-core vaccines may include canine cough protection for dogs that are often socialised or attend a daycare facility, and/or leptospirosis for certain geographic areas.
Vaccination Schedules
It is important that you follow the correct puppy vaccination schedule and kitten vaccination timeline to build up the required immunity within your pet as it gets older. Kittens and puppies are usually vaccinated in a course of 3 injections with regular boosters administered when they get older.
Advantages of Vaccinating Pets
Vaccinations reduce the risk of serious and potentially fatal infections by preventing disease before it even begins. Preventing disease will reduce vet bills, which could otherwise accumulate with the treatment of an illness. Vaccinating your pet will help prevent a widespread pandemic and ensure other pets within our local community avoid serious illness and prevent the spread of diseases amongst pets and potentially humans.
Risks and Side Effects
The majority of pets that receive vaccination do not suffer from adverse effects; some may develop mild sickness for 24 hours as the body develops immunity. Occasionally, severe allergic reactions can occur, and you must contact your vet if you are concerned.
Legal And Social Responsibilities
Some countries and specific locations, such as staying at a kennel or boarding, may require you to provide a vaccination certificate proving your pet has been properly vaccinated. Contact your vet with your pet’s vaccination history and to get vaccinations up to date for travel.
How To Prepare Your Pet For Vaccination
Before taking your pet in for vaccinations, ensure that they are healthy to develop immunity and ask your vet if there are any records of past pet vaccinations that may be of help.
Protect Your Pet
A pet vaccination is a simple but important way to protect your pet from becoming very sick and provides your pet with all the protection they may need. Vaccination schedules should be tailored for your pet’s lifestyle.
Call Asquith Veterinary Hospital to discuss and book your pets’ vaccinations